Letter and numeral rule.



PATENTED JULY' 23, 1907.

, A. M. WING.

LETTER AND NUMERAL RULE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1030.10. 1903. x

e K I filyuai'us 06mm way UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS M. WING, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GRANTJOSEPH BOWMAN, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

LETTER AND NUMERAL RULE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented uly 23, 1907.

Application filed December 10, 1903. Serial No. 184.581-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS MONROE WING, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Spokane, in

. the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have easily manipulatedand more especially designed for conveniently and quickly formingnumerals and letters of the alphabet, both capital and small letters,without requiring a skilled operator.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointedout in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure l is a face view of the improvement, arranged for making blockletters and numerals; Fig. 2 is a like view of a modified form of theimprovement, arranged for making round letters and correspondingnumerals; Fig. 3 is a face view, showing the improvement in the severalpositions required for forming the capital letter K; Fig. 4 is a similarview of the same, showing the various positions required for forming thecapital letter M Fig. 5 is a like view of the improvement, showing thetwo positions required for forming the small letter a in full blockGothic style; Fig. 6 is a like view of the improvement, showing theseveral positions required for forming the numeral Fig. 7 shows on areduced scale, a shank A having a hook B at each end; and Fig. 8illustrates on a reduced scale, a shank A having a block letter hook Bat one end and a round letter hook B at the other end.

The improved letter and numeral rule is preferably made from atransparent or translucent material, such as sheet celluloid or thelike, but it may also be made of wood, cardboard or the like. The ruleis made in the form of the letter J and consists of the shank A and thehook B extending integrally from one end of the shank A and of equalwidth. The extreme transverse width of the rule at the end provided withthe hook is equal to the aggregate distance of one half of the height ofthe letterto be made plus one half of the width of the shank A, and thedistance between the upturned portion of the hook and the shank isapproximately equal to the width of the shank. As shown in Fig. l, theshank A has its lower corners cut off, to adapt the rule more especiallyfor forming block letters and correspondingly shaped numerals, and inthe arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2, the hook B extends integrallyfrom one end of the shank A and is curved, so as to permit of using thisrule for forming letters and numerals of the round type.

The shank A or A is provided with dotted lines a and b, extending fromone side to the other at right angles thereto, and the distance betweenthese lines a and b indicates the height ofthe letter to be formed, itbeing understood that for different sized letters, the

distance between the lines a and b increases or diminhook B iscorrespondingly changed.

Near the upper end of the shank A are formed an gular marking lines (1and e, and a straight marking line f, arranged in the lower portion ofthe shank, and between this marking line f and the dotted line b isarranged an angular marking line g.

For forming the letters of the alphabet, except the letters A, K, M, Vand W, the shank A and the hook B only are used, while for forming thesaid letters A, K, M, V and W use is also made of the angular markinglines d, e and g. The distance from the marking line f to the bottom ofthe hook B represents the width of the letter, the distance mentionedalso corresponding to the width of the hook. In making the letter B, forinstance, the stem is first produced and then the hook B is extendedsidewise beyond the stem, until the line f coincides with the left handline of the stem, thereby indicating the width of the letter withoutmeasuring the width by the transverse portion of the hook B. A markingline h is arranged on the hook B, and divides the hook equally, and itis used in measuring or cutting ed the balance of the hook. i

In making the letter S and round letters and numerals, the hook B is inaddition provided with a chord i, and end marking lines j and 7c arealso arranged on the hook B to form the proper endings for the roundletters, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 6. The line9' represents the point at which the hook begins to curve back towardsthe shank and is used to cutoff the balance of the hook in makingcertain letters. The line It is merely a line for convenience in cuttingoff the balance of the hook in making modified letters.

In using the letter and numeral rule for forming letters, the heightsthereof are laid off by the distance between the lines a and 1), twoparallel lines of this distance being drawn on the paper or other deviceon which the letters or words are to be formed. The operator nowproceeds by using the shank A and the hook B, according to theconfiguration of the letter to be formed, special rules being laid downfor facilitating the work, but it is evident that by the particularshape ishes, and the width of the shank A and that of the ,65

given to the shank A and hook B and by the use of the angular markinglines above mentioned, any letter in the alphabet can be readily formed,without requiring much skill onthe part of the operator, andcorrespondingly shaped numerals may also be formed by the use of therule.

In making a letter for some alphabets, say the R0- man, it is desirableto have a hook B at each end of the shank, andit may also bedesirable tohave a block letter hook B, such as shown in Fig. 1, on one end of theshank A, and a round letter hook, such as shown-inshank of even-width,and a hook extending integrally from, one end of the shank, the oppositesides of the hook being parallel with each other, and spaced apart adistance equal to the width of the shank, said shank having markinglines each arranged at an angle with the shank, corresponding to theangle of the base lineuof the'letter to be formed with the direction oflength of the inclined portion of said letter.

2. A rule for forming letters, comprising shank of even width, havingparallel sides. and a hook extending integrally from one end oftheshank, the-shank being provided with angular marking lines for thepurpose set forth, and with transverse space lines adjacent to each endthereof, the distance between the space lines corresponding to theheight of the letters to be formed; the shank and hook being. ofsubstantially the same width throughout the extent of the rule.

3. A rule comprising a straight shank with parallel sides, and a hookextending integrally from one end of the shank, the shank being providedwith angular marking lines each arranged at an angle with theshank,corre sponding to the angle of the base line of the letter to be formed,with the direction of length of the inclined pora straight tion of saidletter, and transverse space lines adjacent to each end thereof, thedistance between thespace lines corresponding to the height of theletter to be formed, and .the said hook being provided with markinglines for the purpose set forth. Q i

4. A'rule for'forming lettcrs, comprising a shank of even width havingspace lines adjacent to each end thereof, and corresponding to theheight of the letters to be formed, and a hook extending integrally fromone end of the shank, the extreme width of the rule corresponding tothe-aggregate'distance of one half of the length of the letter to beformed plus one half of the width of the shank.

'5; A rule for forming letters comprising a shank of even Wvfi'ithhaving angular marking lines and a hook extending integrally from oneend of the shank, the extreme width of the rule correspondingto theaggregate distance of one half of the length of the letter to be formedplus one half of the width of the shank as set forth.

'6. A rule for forming letters comprising a shank of even width, and ahook extending integrally from one end of the shank, the extreme widthof the rule corresponding to the aggregate distance of one half of theletter to be formed plus one half of the width of the shank, and amarking line on said shank at a point above the bottom of the hookcorresponding tothe extremev'vidth oftherule.

7. A rule for forming letters comprisinga shank of even width, havingangular marking lines and transverse space lines indicating the heightof the letter to be formed, anda hook extending integrally from one endof'the shank, the extreme width of the rule corresponding to the aggre:gate distance of one half .of the length of the letter-plus one half ofthe width of the shank, and a marking line on said shank at a pointabove the bottom of the hook, corresponding to the outer width of thehook, and the said hook havingmarking lines as set forth.

8. A rule for forming letters comprising a shank of even width, and ahook extending integrally from one end of the shank, the extreme widthof the rule corresponding to the'aggregate distance of one .half of thelength of the letter to beformed,-,plus one half of the width of theshank, the shank and hook having marking lines as set forth.

In testimony whereof i have signed my name to this specification'in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUSTUS ltL'WING.

Witnesses: I

A. E. RUSSELL, 'TI-IOS. B. HIGGINS.

